Spray timer



Aug. 10, 1965 R. STRACHAN 3,199,732

SPRAY TIMER Filed March 20, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Fl 6 6 INVENTOR Robert Struchon ATTORNEYS R. STRACHAN Aug. 10, 1965 SPRAY TIMER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 20, 1963 Fl G 8 INVENTOR FIG.7.

Robert Strochcm BY M (Vfiuw ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,199,732 SPRAY TEMER Robert Strachan, Wolcott, Jenn assignor to Robertshaw Controls Company, a corporation of Delaware Filed Mar. 28, 1963, Ser. No. 266,708 14 Claims. (fil. 222-76) This invention relates to metering devices for aerosols or the like and more particularly to a timer means for regulating the duration of a discharge or spray cycle from an aerosol dispenser or the like.

It is an object of this invention to provide a spray timer for controlling the duration of the spray cycle from a pressurized container wherein the said timer is removably mounted over the valve portion of the container.

It is another object of this invention to provide a spray timer for pressurized containers having tilt type valves and to simultaneously provide a novel nozzle structure for said value which will properly index said spray timer into proper position on said container.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a spray timer for pressurized containers having a novel spring and cam valve actuator structure therein.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide a spray timer unit for pressurized containers having a novel mounting means for securing said timer unit to said containers.

These and other objects of this invention will become more fully apparent with reference to the following speccification and drawings which relate to a preferred embodiment of the invention.

in the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is an exploded view, in perspective, of the invention;

FIGURE 2 is an assembled view, in perspective, of the invention; 7

FIGURE 3 is a partial cross-section taken along line 33 of FlGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is a side elevation of the drive motor and valve operating means of the invention;

FEGURE 5 is a top plan view of FZGUR E 4;

FZGURE 6 is a bottom plan View of FIGURE 4;

FIGURE 7 is an enlarged operational detail of the valve nozzle and activator; and

FEGURE 8 is a top plan operational detail of the valve nozzle and actuator.

Referring in detail to the drawings, and more particularly to FEGURES l, 2 and 3, the spray timer 1% is shown as being mounted upon an aerosol can or other pressurized container 12 having a conventional tilt type hollow discharge valve stem 1 protruding from the upper end thereof.

The upper end of the container 12 comprises a valve cover 16 having an annular re-entrant portion 18 concentric with the said valve stem 14. The re-entrant portion is defined by a raised annular, three-quarter-round molding 20 or the like. 1

A spray nozzle 22 having a vertical axis bore 24 therein is mounted on the valve stem 14, which stem 14 is telescopically received within the vertical bore 24. A radial discharge port 26 extends to the atmosphere from the vertical bore 24 and includes a. counterbored discharge end 28.

A radially stepped, longitudinally extending index tab 3% is provided integral with the said spray nozzle 22 and is symmetrically disposed beneath the counterbored discharge end 28 of the nozzle discharge port 26. The tab 31? includes a dependent foot 32 which engages the surface of the annular re-entrant portion 13 in the valve cover 16.-

EJWJBZ Patented Aug. 10, 1965 The spray nozzle 22 also is provided with a beveled upper portion 34, diametrically opposite the discharge end 28 of the discharge port 26 to permit manual operation of the valve stem 14 when the spray timer 1%) is not present on the container 12.

The spray timer 1% is provided with a cylindrical housing 36 having an internal supporting deck 35 intermediate the upper and lower ends thereof. The external peripheral skirt portion below the deck 38 is provided with a rectangular slot 40 which is adapted to be in alignment with the discharge end 28 of the discharge port 26 of the spray nozzle 22.

Dependent from the support deck 38 is a cylindrical sleeve 42, which is internally concentric with the housing 36 and substantially co-extensive therewith below the said deck 38. A plurality of longitudinally extending, radially acting, arcuate spring fingers 44- are provided about the entire lower annulus of the sleeve 42 with the exception that one rectangular slot 46 is left open in a position such that it is in registry with the rectangular slot 46 in the housing 36.

The housing 36 has substantially the same diameter as the container 12 while the inner sleeve 42 is dimensioned such that the spring fingers 44 engage the inner edge of the annular molding 20 on the valve cover 16. An annu lar recess 48 is provided on the spring fingers 44- so that they fully conform to the contour of the said annular molding 2%.

The deck 38 is ported, as best shown at 56 in FIGURE 3, and the inner sleeve 42 is cut away at 52 adjacent the port 50 to provide operating room for the valve actuator means 54.

Referring to FIGURES 1, 3, 4, 6, 7 and 8, the Valve actuator means 54 is shown as comprising a timing cam 56 and a dual cam follower 58, both of which are mounted beneath the lower surface of a timer drive motor 60.

The timer cam 56 comprises a flat cylindrical disc having upper and lower peripheral cam surfaces 62 and 64, respectively, the disc being secured at its center of rotation to the output shaft 66 of the timer motor 69.

The dual cam follower 58 comprises an upper cam follower arm 68 and a lower cam follower arm joined together by means of a torsion spring coil 72, integral with said arms 68 and 7% at opposite ends thereof, which is externally concentric with and freely mounted for rotation on a pivot pin 74 dependended from beneath the timer motor 61).

Referring now to FIGURES 1 through 6, the timer motor 65 is shown as comprising a base plate 76 which rests on the support deck 38 of the housing 36, an upper mounting plate 78 separated by spacer studs 86 from the base plate '76, a gear train 82 sandwiched between the base plate 76 and mounting plate 73 and a helical drive or mainspring 84 mounted on the upper mounting plate 7 8.

The mainspring 84 is secured via its innermost convolution to an actuator shaft 36 which serves to wind the spring 84 as well as comprising the power input shaft for the gear-train 82.

A fixed reference bracket 88 is mounted on the upper plate 78 and serves as an anchor for the outermost end 99 of the mainspring 84.

The spray timer assembly 19 is completed by cylindrical end cap 92 having a serrated periphery 94 and an internally threaded, internal, axial extension 96 which is threadably engageable with the actuator shaft 86 on the timer motor 60. The end cap 92 thus serves as a winding knob for the mainspring 84.

The serrated periphery 94 is in the form of a dependent skirt which is externally concentric with the upper periphery of the timer housing 36.

Operation Assuming that the spray nozzle 22 is already in position on the valve stem 14 of the container 12, the spray timer it? is secured to the valve cover 16 by aligning the rectangular slot 46, between the dependent spring fingers 44 of the inner sleeve 42, with the stepped index tab 30 on the spray nozzle 22 and subsequently forcing the entire timer assembly downward whereby the spring fingers 44- enter the re-entrant portion 18 of the valve cover 16 and are locked in place by the interaction of the annular molding 29 on the valve cover 16 and the annular recess 48 on the spring fingers 44.

Thus, the timer 19 is mounted on the container 12 and the discharge end 28 of the discharge port 26 in the nozzle 32 is aligned with the rectangular discharge slots 46 and 46 in the inner sleeve 42 and outer housing 36, respectively.

To initiate a metered discharge from the container 12,

assuming for the sake of example that a constant discharge may be effected by tilting the valve stem 14 and thus, controlling the duration of the said discharge will permit a predetermined quantity to be discharged during each spray cycle, the end cap or winding knob 92 is utilized to wind up the mainspring 84 via the actuator shaft 86. A one-way clutch means (not shown) is provided on the gear train 82 whereby no movement of the output shaft 66 thereof is effected during the winding operation on the mainspring S4. i The dual cam follower 58 is positioned, upon mounting of the timer 10 on the cam 12, with the lower cam follower arm 74} immediately adjacent the periphery of the spray nozzle 22 above the discharge end 28 of the discharge port 26 therein.

As best shown in FIGURES 4, 7 and 8, release of the mainspring 34 will drive the shaft 36 to energize the gear train 82 and cause the output shaft 6 3 to rotate the timer cam 56 of the valve actuator means 54.

When the cam 56 reaches the position of FIGURE 8, the upper cam follower arm 68 is in a position of maximum rise on the upper cam 62 while the lower cam follower arm 70 is at a point of minimum rise on the lower cam 64. Thus, because of the helical torsion spring '72 interconnecting with said follower arms and the opposed rise characteristics of the upper and lower earns 62 and 64, respectively, the lower cam follower arm 76 is constrained to follow the upper follower arm 68 as it pivots on the pivot pin 74.

Thus, the lower follower arm 70 is forced against the spray nozzle 22 with sufiicient force to tilt or rock the said nozzle and the valve stem 14, as shown in FIGURE 8, such that a spray discharge 100 is efiected from the discharge end 28 of the discharge port 26 through the rectangular discharge slots 46 and 42 in the inner sleeve 42 and outer housing 36, respectively.

The duration of the spray cycle is predetermined by the strength of the mainspring 84, gain of the gear train 82 and rise characteristics of the upper and lower cams 62 and 6 respectively, on the timer cam 56.

The timer motor (it) may be as described or may be an electric clock motor type of drive for the timer 10 whereby similar spray cycle regulation may be effected by selecting gear ratios and cam characteristics.

The spray cycle is terminated when the upper cam follower arm 68 falls off at the point of maximum rise on the upper cam 62 whereby the inherent spring return characteristics of the valve stem 14 will terminate the cycle.

Thus, the timer cam 56 selectively stores and releases energy from the torsion spring 72 in the dual cam follower 58 via the upper and lower follower arms as and 70, respectively, to elfect a timed control of the spray cycle.

As can be seen from the foregoing specification and drawings this invention provides a novel and reliable spray timer means for aerosol or other pressurized containers whereby a metered discharge may be effected.

It is to be understood that the embodiment shown and described herein is for the purpose of example only and is not intended to limit the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. Means for effecting a spray discharge from a pressurized container, said container having a displaceable discharge valve stem and a valve cover having a re-entrant cavity'therein surrounding said valve stem, said valve cover having a raised annular molding defining the said re-entrant cavity therein said means comprising a spray nozzle on said Valve stem including a discharge port, a housing adapted to partially enclose said nozzle, mount ing means in said housing releasably engaging said annular molding within said re-entrant cavity of said valve cover partially enclosing said nozzle and including a discharge opening in registry with the said discharge port of said nozzle, whereby said housing is releasably mounted on said container, drive means in said housing having a timed periodic output and actuating means adjacent said nozzle and driven by said drive means to periodically engage said nozzle and effecta spray discharge therefrom of a predetermined duration.

2. Means for effecting a spray discharge from a pressurized container, said container having a displaceable discharge valve stem and a valve cover having a rcentrant cavity therein surrounding said valve stem, said valve cover having a raised annular molding'defining the said re-entry cavity therein said means comprising a spray nozzle on said valve stem including a discharge port, a housing adapted to partially enclose said nozzle, mounting means in said housing releasably engaging said annular molding within said re-entrant cavity of said valve cover whereby said housing is releasably mounted on said container, drive means in said housing having a rotary output of predetermined speed, cam means adjacent said nozzle driven by said drive means, pivot means adjacent said nozzle opposite said cam means, and cam follower means pivotally mounted on said pivot means and extending across said nozzle immediately adjacent same into engagement with said cam means, said cam follower means being constrained by said cam means to periodically engage said nozzle and efiect a spray discharge therefrom of a predetermined duration.

3. The invention defined in claim 2, wherein said cam means comprises a disc having upper and lower peripheral cams thereon having opposed rise characteristics, and wherein said cam follower means comprises a helical torsion spring concentric with said pivot means and upper and lower radial follower'arms extending therefrom, said upper and lower arms being engaged, respectively wtih said upper and lower cams on said disc and being constrained to mutually follow one another by the said torsion spring, said lower arm being adapted to engage said nozzle. 4. The invention defined in claim 2, wherein said cam means comprises first and second rotary cams having opposed rose characteristics, and wherein said cam follower means comprises torsion means pivotally mounted on said pivot means and first and second radial follower arms extending therefrom, said first and second follower arms being engaged, respectively, with said first and second cams and being constrained to mutually follow one another by said torsion means, said first follower arm being adapted to engage said nozzle.

.5. The invention defined in claim 2, wherein said drive means comprises a spring motor including a mainspring, and means for winding said mainspring comprising a rotata-ble end cap on said housing and an integral shaft extending from said end cap into engagement with said mainspring.

6. The invention defined in claim 2, wherein said housing includes a discharge opening, said nozzle includes an integral index tab aligned with said discharge .port therein, and said mounting means includse illdQ means,

3 engaging said index tab on said nozzle such that said discharge port in said nozzle is aligned with said discharge opening in said housin 7. Means for effecting a spray discharge from a pressurized container having a displaceable discharge valve stem comprising a spray nozzle on said valve stem including a discharge port, a housing mounted on said container and partially enclosing said nozzle, drive means in said housing having a rotary output of predetermined speed, cam means adjacent said nozzle driven by said drive means, pivot means adjacent said nozzle opposite said cam means, and cam follower means pivotally mounted on said pivot means and extending across said nozzle immediately adjacent same into engagement with said cam means, said cam follower means being constrained by said cam means to periodically engage said nozzle and effect a spray discharge therefrom of a predetermined duration; said cam means comprising a disc having upper and lower peripheral cams thereon having opposed rise characteristics, and said cam follower means comprising a helical torsion spring concentric with said pivot means including upper and lower radial follower arms extending therefrom, said upper and lower arms being engaged, respectively with said upper and lower cams on said disc and being constrained to mutually follow one another by the said torsion spring, said lower arm being adapted to engage said nozzle,

8. Means for effecting a spray discharge from a pressurized container having a displaceable discharge valve stem comprising a spray nozzle on said valve stem including a discharge port, a housing mounted on said container and partially enclosing said nozzle, drive means in said housing having a rotary output of predetermined speed, cam means adjacent said nozzle driven by said drive means, pivot means adjacent said nozzle opposite said cam means, and cam follower means pivotally mounted on said pivot means and extending across said nozzle immediately adjacent same into engagement with said cam means, said cam follower means being constrained "by said cam means to periodically engage said nozzle and effect a spray discharge therefrom of a predetermined duration; said cam means comprising first and second rotary cams having opposed rise characteristics, and said cam follower means comprising torsion means pivotally mounted on said pivot means including first and second radial follower arms extending therefrom, said first and second follower arms being engaged, respectively, with said first and second cams and being constrained to mutually follow one another by said torsion means, said first follower arm being adapted to engage said nozzle.

9. Means for effecting a spray discharge from a pres surized container having a displaceable discharge valve stem comprising a spray nozzle on said valve stem including a discharge port, a housing mounted on said container and partially enclosing said nozzle, drive means in said housing having a rotary output of predetermined speed, cam means adjacent said nozzle driven by said drive means, pivot means adjacent said nozzle opposite said cam means, and cam follower means pivotally mounted on said pivot means and extending across said nozzle immediately adjacent same into engagement with said cam means, said cam follower means being constrained by said cam means to periodically engage said nozzle and effect a spray discharge therefrom of a predetermined duration; said housing including a discharge opening, said nozzle including an integral index tab aligned with said discharge port therein, and said housing further including index means engaging said index tab on said nozzle such that said discharge port in said nozzle is aligned with said discharge opening in said housing.

16. Means for effecting a spray discharge from a pressurized container having a displaceable discharge valve stem comprising a spray nozzle on said valve stem including a discharge port, a housing mounted on said container and partially enclosing said nozzle, drive means in said housing having a rotary output of predetermined speed, cam means adjacent said nozzle driven by said drive means, pivot means adjacent said nozzle opposite said cam means, and cam follower means pivotally mounted on said pivot means and extending across said nozzle immediately adjacent same into engagement with said cam means, said cam follower means being constrained by said cam means to periodically engage said nozzle and effect a spray discharge therefrom of a predetermined duration; said drive means comprising a spring motor including a mainspring, and means for winding said mainspring comprising a rotatable end cap on said housing and an integral shaft extending from said end cap into engagement with said mainspring.

11. In a spray timer including a spray nozzle mounted on a discharge valve stem and a drive means having a rotary output, actuator means for said spray nozzle comprising carn means adjacent said nozzle driven by said drive means, pivot means adjacent said nozzle opposite said cam means and cam follower means pivotally mounted on said pivot means and extending across said nozzle immediately adjacent same into engagement with said cam means, said cam follower means being constrained by said cam means to periodically engage said nozzle and effect a spray discharge therefrom; said cam means comprising a disc having upper and lower peripheral cams thereon having opposed rise characteristics, and said cam follower means comprising a helical torsion spring concentric with said pivot means including upper and lower radial follower arms extending therefrom, said upper and lower arms being engaged, respectively, with said upper and lower cams on said disc and being constrained to mutually follow one another by the said torsion spring, said lower arm being adapted to engage said nozzle.

12. In a spray timer including a spray nozzle mounted on a discharge valve stem and a drive means having a rotary output, actuator means for said spray nozzle comprising cam means adjacent said nozzle driven by said drive means, pivot means adjacent said nozzle opposite said cam means and cam follower means pivotally mounted on said pivot means and extending across said nozzle immediately adjacent same into engagement with said cam means, said cam follower means being constrained by said cam means to periodically engage said nozzle and effect a spray discharge therefrom; said cam means comprising first and second rotary cams having opposed rise characteristics, and said cam follower means comprising torsion means pivotally mounted on said pivot means including first and second radial follower arms extending therefrom, said first and second follower arms being engaged, respectively, with said first and second cams and being constrained to mutually follow one another by said torsion means, said first follower arm being adapted to engage said nozzle.

13. Means for effecting .a spray discharge from a pressurized container, said container having a displaceable discharge valve stem and a valve cover having a re-en-trant cavity therein surrounding said valve stem, said valve cover having a raised annular molding defining the said re-entrant cavity therein, said means comprising a spray nozzle on said valve stem including a discharge port, a housing adapted to partially enclose said nozzle, mounting means in said housing releasably engaging said annular molding within said re-entr-ant cavity of said valve cover whereby said housing is releasably mounted on said container, drive means in said housing having a timed periodic output and actuating means adjacent said nozzle and driven by said drive means to periodically engage said nozzle and effect a spray discharge therefrom of a predetermined duration; said housing including a discharge opening, said nozzle including an integral index tab aligned with said discharge port therein, and said mounting means including index means engaging said index tab on said nozzle such that said discharge port in said nozzle r 7 v r 8 l is aligned with said discharge opening in said housing. References Cited by the Examiner 14. The in ention defined in claim 2, wherein said cam UNITED STATES PATENTS means comprises first and second rotary cams having op- V posed rise characteristics, and wherein said cam follower 3918356 '1/62 Montgomery 222-70 X means comprises first and second follower arms pivotally 5 3,107,821 10/63 Lambert 222-70 mounted on and extending from said pivot means and FOREIGN PATENTS spring means interconnecting said follower arms mutually constraining them to follow one another, said first 3301873 6/30 Great Bfltalnand second follower arms being engaged, respectively, with said first and second cam means, said first follower 10 EVERETT KIRBY Prlmm'y Examiner arm being adapted to engage said nozzle. LOUIS J. DEMBO, Examiner. 

1. MEANS FOR EFFECTING A SPRAY DISCHARGE FROM A PRESSURIZER CONTAINER, SAID CONTAINER HAVING A DISPLACABLE DISCHARGE VALVE STEM AND A VALVE COVER HAVING A RE-ENTRANT CAVITY THEREIN SORROUNDING SAID VALVE STEM, SAID VALVE COVER HAVING A RAISED ANNULAR MOLDING DEFINING THE SAID RE-ENTRAND CAVITY THEREIN SAID MEANS COMPRISING A SPRAY NOZZLE ON SAID VALVE STEM INCLUDING A DISCHARGE PORT, A HOUSING ADAPTED TO PARTIALLY ENCLOSE SAID NOZZLE, MOUNTING MEANS IN SAID HOUSING RELEASABLY ENGAGING SAID ANNULAR MOLDING WITHIN SAID RE-ENTRANT CAVITY OF SAID VALVE COVER PARTIALLY ENCLOSING SAID NOZZLE AND INCLUDING A DISCHARGE OPENING IN REGISTRY WITH THE SAID DISCHARGE PORT OF SAID NOZZLE, WHEREBY SAID HOUSING IS RELEASABLY MOUNTED ON SAID CONTAINER, DRIVE MEANS IN SAID HOUSING HAVING A TIMED PERIODIC OUTPUT AND ACTUATING MEANS ADJACENT SAID NOZZLE AND DRIVEN BY SAID DRIVE MEANS TO PERIODICALLY ENGAGE SAID NOZZLE AND EFFECT A SPRAY DISCHARGE THEREFROM OF A PREDETERMINED DURATION. 